Something for the diary - for those who can receive BBC4. MUSIC: Diamonds are Forever: The Don Black Songbook, BBC 4, Friday 3rd January 2014 Time: 19:30 to 21:00 (1 hour and 30 minutes long) Don Black, the lyricist behind a huge collection of popular hit songs including Diamonds are Forever, Born Free, Ben and Love Changes Everything, shares some fascinating insights into his life's work with Michael Grade, in between live performances of his songs by Brian May, Eliza Doolittle, Frances Ruffelle, Gary Wilmot, Gregory Porter, Katie Melua, Kerry Ellis, Laura Wright, Marc Almond, Maria Friedman, Marti Webb, Michael Ball, Only Men Aloud and Richard Stilgoe. Recorded at the Royal Festival Hall in London. (Stereo, Widescreen, Subtitles)

Lou Pecci has just released an album of James Bond music with a difference. In "James Bond on Electric Guitar" (11 John Barry compositions and 1 original tune), all the tracks are played on the guitar. Furthermore they are not restricted to the usual title themes and songs:

James Bond Theme ("Dr.No") 007 ("From Russia With Love") Into Miami ("Goldfinger") Goldfinger - Instrumental Version Switching the Body ("Thunderball") Death of Fiona ("Thunderball") The Wedding ("You Only Live Twice") On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Main Title We Have All the Time in the World ("On Her Majesty's Secret Service") Diamonds Are Forever - Main Title Tiffany Case ("Diamonds Are Forever") The Black Path - L. Pecci

You can find more details at various Amazon sites around the world, and it's also available via iTunes.

Collector Ian Mcdonald commented on our John Barry Appreciation Society Facebook page: For those of you attending this event a good few fans are meeting up from about 12.30pm on the day of the Concert in the Kensington Close Hotel, Wrights Lane, Kensington in the main bar/lounge area.

Directions: tube to High St Kensington, out of station and turn left, then take 1st left into Wrights Lane. It's about a quarter of a mile walk from the station. If you access Google Maps this will give you an idea. Those attending are requested to register on the JBAS Facebook page so that a designated area may be negociated. RAH is no more than a 15-20 minute walkhttp://www.kensingtonclosehotel.com/default-en.htm

Saturday 15 February 2014, 7.30pm Concert: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra - Great Movie Themes Nicholas Dodd conductorKing George's Hall, Blackburn town centreClick here to download 2013/2014 season brochure The name’s Barry… John Barry. But this legendary British film composer was much more than just the man who gave a generation of James Bond themes style, swing and sex-appeal. From the wide open spaces of Out of Africa to the soaring emotions of Born Free and Dances with Wolves, tonight we celebrate some of the greatest movie music ever written – and savour again the sheer thrill of Goldfinger, From Russia With Love, Diamonds Are Forever, You Only Live Twice and many more. Expect silken strings, sassy brass and tunes that sound like a million dollars. Relax and enjoy ... we have all the time in the world! Pre-concert talk: Nicholas Dodd interviewed by Samuel Hudson, Director of Music at Blackburn Cathedral.

We are pleased to announce that a new John Barry CD is now available. "John Barry - The Early Years" is a compilation album focusing on the years 1959-1962, in which every track features a Barry arrangement or composition.

The majority of tracks are making their début on CD, and Barry's library music for Chappell is all together on one CD for the first time.

The mix of songs and instrumentals includes twelve Barry compositions and three by Lionel Bart. The final three tracks are an early Christmas bonus from Nina & Frederik!

Please note that although this is not a numbered limited edition, it's very likely that only 1000 CDs will be manufactured. If sales are reasonably encouraging, further CD releases on this label will follow!

If you live in the UK the cost is £11 including postage, and it's £13 for the rest of the world. We prefer Paypal. We realise that using PayPal to order is not everybody's cup of tea. So, If you cannot or don't wish to use PayPal, for any reason, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will endeavour to arrange an alternative method of payment.

However, please note, we cannot accept payment by credit/debit cards. Order here

Rosie Clarkson, who will play Barbara in the forthcoming production of "Billy", will be appearing on Elaine Paige's BBC Radio 2 show this Sunday, May 26. As most will know, Elaine played Rita, her rival, in the original production.

Interesting to note that after we were originally told that the BBC could not afford to repeat their John Barry Omnibus programme as a tribute after he died, it's being screened yet again on Saturday May 18, on BBC4!

On before it is " ...Sings James Bond", which includes various performances of the theme songs as originally screened on BBC. Thanks for the tip, MB!

John Barry and Don Black's Billy to Receive First London Revival at Union Theatre Great news for John Barry fans able to travel to London between the end of May and June this year. The John Barry - Don Black musical 'Billy' is set to receive its first London revival since the original run ended in 1976, and it will also be an opportunity for many to hear for the first time the songs not included in the original.

From Playbill.com: "Billy, the 1974 musical with a score by the late John Barry (music) and Don Black (lyrics) that originally starred Michael Crawford at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, is to receive its first London revival at the fringe Union Theatre."

It will begin performances May 29 prior to an official opening May 31, for a run through June 29. More...

The concert’s conductor is Nic Raine, who worked as the orchestrator for John Barry during the recording of A View to a Kill and The Living Daylights, and has worked on several Bond-themed albums with the Prague Philharmonics."

"The Very Best of John Barry", conducted by Nic Raine Thursday 3 October 2013 7.30pm, Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth Tickets for the concert in the Royal Albert Hall in London, which will be held on October 4th, go on sale on Thursday 28th March. The third concert will be at the Hexagon in Reading on 5th October 2013. Tickets will go on sale "from June 17th onwards". check the RPO / Hexagon websites. Added March 18, 2013 Update March 21, 2013 / updates: May 7, 2013 / June 3, 2013

Coming up this weekend (Easter): Classic FM's Hall of Fame is the world's largest survey of classical music tastes – and from 9am on Friday through to 9pm Monday they're counting down the top 300 for 2013. John Barry's film music usually performs very well in the chart, so they'll be playing lots of it over the four days and would really like for all lovers of the idiom to tune in and follow along.

Rory McAllister will be hosting, on Sunday night 24 February 2013, in Bracknell, Berkshire – Cinema In Symphony. The Reading Symphony Orchestra will be playing some John Barry from Out of Africa, alongside John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore et al. http://www.southhillpark.org.uk/?lid=1018

'John Barry, A Sixties Theme, From James Bond To Midnight Cowboy' by Eddie Fiegel reissued

'John Barry, A Sixties Theme, From James Bond To Midnight Cowboy' by Eddie Fiegel has been reissued. The new Faber edition includes a brand new foreword from Fiegel in which she brings the story up to date and talks about what it was like working with John on the book, who fully co-oprated with the writing of it and spent many many hours doing interviews with her, and his thoughts on it having read it etc. Other than that, the rest of the book is a reissue.

" Good afternoon, film score fans! Coming next Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 1 pm pst are the following titles: FIRST LOVE MUSIC BY JOHN BARRY LLLCD 1243 LIMITED EDTION OF 2000 UNITS RETAIL PRICE: $19.98 Produced by Neil S. Bulk and Lukas Kendall Mastered by Mike Matessino Liner Notes by Jeff Bond Art Direction by Dan Goldwasser Paramount Pictures and La-La Land Records are proud to announce the world premiere release of one of John Barry’s lost masterpieces, FIRST LOVE, a 1977 romance starring William Katt and Susan Dey. For the first time ever, fans of Barry will be able to hear the score he wrote for this 1977 heart breaker. Mastering guru Mike Matessino was able to utilize the original 16-track tapes and remix First Love into full stereo, so the score sounds better than it ever has! Jeff bond takes the listener deep inside the film’s history and its “lost score.” The total film score clocks in around 40 minutes, plus there is an additional 18 minutes of bonus material."

"Ahead of the anniversary of the death of John Barry a little later this month, Howard Goodall pays tribute to this son of a Yorkshireman who went on to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand film composers."

In a press release Lalaland Records announce: "We will be releasing John Barry's mostly unused score to the 1977 Romantic Drama FIRST LOVE, starring William Katt and Susan Dey. This is a gorgeous Barry score in the great style of his 1970's period.

A more detailed press release for all these titles will be forth-coming."

PIA website

Play It Again Records CD catalogue offered the discerning listener a wide choice of digitally re-mastered recordings from film and television, and rare collections of work from the likes of Don Black and Ron Grainer.

Back by popular demand, popular Q The Music Show is coming back to The Harlington, Fleet bringing their fabulous and iconic music of James Bond to you in a stunning concert. This show has been a huge success at other theatres with its energetic and exciting performance by some of the UK’s leading musicians.

Featuring all the songs from the 007 movies, you can hear the greats like Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Skyfall, Thunderball, Live And Let Die, Goldeneye and Licence To Kill amongst all the others. With top musicians, dancers, and an informative and highly amusing compere, this show as everything you could want for a fabulous night out – and one that you will be talking about for years to come.

Formed in 2004, Q The Music Show have established a worldwide reputation for their authentic covers, orchestral sound and fabulous hair-raising vocalists. The show has been popular abroad at events in Monte Carlo, Germany, Italy, Guernsey, Prague and many others.

The popular Q The Music Show brings its James Bond Concert Spectacular to Buxton Opera House. The 13-piece band will be bringing the fabulous and iconic music of James Bond to you in a stunning concert. This show has been a huge success all around the world with its energetic and exciting performance by some of the UK’s leading musicians.

Featuring all the songs from the 007 movies, you can hear the greats like Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Skyfall, Thunderball, Live And Let Die, Goldeneye and Licence To Kill amongst all the others. With top musicians and an informative and highly amusing compere, this show as everything you could want for a fabulous night out – and one that you will be talking about for years to come.

Formed in 2004, Q The Music Show have established a worldwide reputation for their authentic covers, orchestral sound and fabulous hair-raising vocalists. The show has been popular abroad at events in Monte Carlo, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Guernsey, Prague and many others.

Barry Goldfinger (1964)Barry Main Theme, ZuluBarry On her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) We Have All the Time in the WorldBarry Somewhere in TimeBarry MoviolaBarry The PersuadersBarry Mary, Queen of ScotsBarry Midnight CowboyBarry Suite, Dances with Wolves

--interval--

Barry Born FreeBarry All Time High, Octopussy (1983)Barry Theme, Out of Africa (1985)Barry Body HeatBarry ChaplinBarry Space March (Capsule in Space), You Only Live TwiceBarry The KnackBarry Suite, James Bond

Legendary Hollywood composer John Barry won five Oscars throughout a career creating some of the most memorable music in the history of cinema. Enjoy an evening of his greatest hits – Bond themes from Goldfinger to We Have All the Time in the World, music from Zulu, Midnight Cowboy, Dances with Wolves and more.